Vertically rotating grooming attachment brush and method of use

Abstract

A rotating grooming brush comprising a brush hub having grooming elements and shroud elements, and method for grooming a surface having an unwanted material thereon. The elements extend from the brush hub and may be positioned near its outer periphery. The elements may be grooming elements forming an array and shroud elements forming a shroud array. A rigid or elastomeric shroud extending from the brush hub surface may optionally be included about the edge of the brush hub, to the outside of the grooming elements. Rotation of the grooming attachment brush causes a low pressure region to build in the central area of the brush. This low pressure region creates a resulting force that forcefully attracts the grooming attachment brush to the surface to be groomed. The resulting force is controlled by the diameter of the brush hub, arrangement, of the elements and the speed of rotation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A grooming brush for removing biofouling from a surface, comprising:
 a brush hub having a first surface, an outer periphery, and an axis of rotation; 
 a plurality of individual shroud elements attached to, and extending away from, said first surface; 
 a plurality of individual grooming elements attached to, and extending away from, said first surface, each of the plurality of individual grooming elements having a distal end at a point along said grooming element that is furthest from said first surface; 
 each individual grooming element comprising a solid stud or bundle of individual bristles; 
 wherein each shroud element of the plurality of individual shroud elements is defined as a solid flexible stud structure having a first length and each individual grooming element of the plurality of individual grooming elements is defined as having a second length, wherein said first length is less than said second length; 
 wherein said plurality of shroud elements are attached to said first surface forming a shroud element array, said shroud element array inset from said brush hub outer periphery by a shroud element inset distance and wherein each of said plurality of shroud elements forming said array is separated from its adjacent shroud elements such that a gap is formed between adjacent shroud elements, allowing fluid to pass between the shroud elements; and 
 wherein said plurality of individual grooming elements are attached to said first surface forming a grooming element array, said grooming element array inset from said brush hub outer periphery by a grooming element inset distance; 
 wherein said grooming element inset distance is greater than said shroud element inset distance; 
 wherein a quantity of individual shroud elements forming said plurality of individual shroud elements and a quantity of individual grooming elements forming said plurality of individual grooming elements are the same; 
 wherein each of the plurality of individual shroud elements is radially aligned with a corresponding individual grooming element, forming grooming element-shroud element pairs; and 
 wherein each individual shroud element of the plurality of individual shroud elements is disposed at a first angle relative to said brush hub first surface, and each individual grooming element of the plurality of individual grooming elements is disposed at a second angle relative to said brush hub first surface, said first angle being greater than said second angle, such that each of the plurality of individual shroud elements is in contact with and supports its corresponding individual grooming element when said grooming brush is pulled against a surface to be groomed causing said individual grooming elements distal ends to bend away from said grooming brush axis of rotation. 
 
     
     
       2. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said first angle is between 90 degrees and 60 degrees, and wherein said second angle is between 90 degrees and 45 degrees. 
 
     
     
       3. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said first length is between 0.25 and 1.5 inches, and wherein said second length is between 0.50 and 2.0 inches. 
 
     
     
       4. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said shroud elements comprise a material that exhibits a Shore A Hardness between 40-55. 
 
     
     
       5. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said shroud elements comprise a Buta-N rubber. 
 
     
     
       6. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said grooming elements comprise polymeric materials selected that are formed as either solid studs or as a plurality of bristles. 
 
     
     
       7. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said grooming elements are further defined as comprising polypropylene. 
 
     
     
       8. The grooming brush of  claim 1 ;
 wherein said grooming elements comprise a polymer with a modulus of elasticity between 0.6 and 3.6 GPa. 
 
     
     
       9. The grooming brush of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of impeller elements extending from said first surface in an impeller vein pattern having a center, wherein said center of said impeller vein pattern is disposed upon said axis of rotation, and wherein said impeller elements are defined as comprising a material having a Shore A Hardness between 40-55 and having a length no greater than said shroud elements. 
     
     
       10. A method for removing biofouling from a surface to be groomed without damaging a coating on the surface to be groomed, comprising:
 providing a grooming brush, said grooming brush comprising:
 a brush hub having a first surface, an outer periphery, and an axis of rotation; 
 a plurality of individual shroud elements attached to, and extending away from, said first surface; 
 a plurality of individual grooming elements attached to, and extending away from, said first surface, each of the plurality of individual grooming elements having a distal end at a point along said grooming element that is furthest from said first surface; 
 each individual grooming element comprising a solid stud or bundle of individual bristles; 
 wherein each shroud element of the plurality of individual shroud elements is defined as a solid flexible stud structure having a first length and each individual grooming element of the plurality of individual grooming elements is defined as having a second length, wherein said first length is less than said second length; 
 wherein said plurality of shroud elements are attached to said first surface forming a shroud element array, said shroud element array inset from said brush hub outer periphery by a shroud element inset distance and wherein each of said plurality of shroud elements forming said array is separated from its adjacent shroud elements such that a gap is formed between adjacent shroud elements, allowing fluid to pass between the shroud elements; and 
 wherein said plurality of grooming elements are attached to said first surface forming a grooming element array, said grooming element array inset from said brush hub outer periphery by a grooming element inset distance; 
 wherein said grooming element inset distance is greater than said shroud element inset distance; 
 wherein a quantity of individual shroud elements forming said plurality of individual shroud elements and a quantity of individual grooming elements forming said plurality of individual grooming elements are the same; 
 wherein each of the plurality of individual shroud elements is radially aligned with a corresponding individual grooming element, forming grooming element-shroud element pairs; and 
 wherein each individual shroud element of the plurality of individual shroud elements is disposed at a first angle relative to said brush hub first surface, and each individual grooming element of the plurality of individual grooming elements is disposed at a second angle relative to said brush hub first surface, said first angle being greater than said second angle, such that each of the plurality of individual shroud elements is in contact with and supports its corresponding individual grooming element when said grooming brush is pulled against a surface to be groomed causing said individual grooming elements distal ends to bend away from said grooming brush axis of rotation; 
 
 placing said grooming brush against the surface to be groomed; and 
 rotating said grooming brush at a speed of rotation, causing a low pressure area to develop within a volume created by the surface to be groomed, said brush hub first surface, and the grooming elements array; 
 said low pressure area creating a resulting force tending to pull said plurality of individual grooming elements against the surface to be groomed; 
 wherein said resulting force is sufficient to remove biofouling from the surface to be groomed without removing a protective coating of the surface to be groomed. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said speed of rotation is between 200 and 1100 rotations per minute. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said resulting force is between 7.0 and 10.0 pounds. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 ;
 wherein the plurality of grooming elements comprise polymeric materials selected that are formed as either solid studs or a plurality of bristles. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 ;
 wherein said first angle is between 90 degrees and 60 degrees, and wherein said second angle is between 90 degrees and 45 degrees. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 ;
 wherein said first length is between 0.25 and 1.5 inches, and wherein said second length is between 0.50 and 2.0 inches. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 10 ;
 wherein the plurality of shroud elements comprise a material that exhibits a Shore A Hardness between 40-55 and wherein said the plurality of grooming elements comprise a polymer with a modulus of elasticity between 0.6 and 3.6 GPa. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 ;
 wherein the plurality of shroud elements comprise a Buta-N rubber and wherein the plurality of grooming elements are further defined as comprising polypropylene. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , further including the step of varying said speed of rotation until said resulting force is within a range that is effective to remove a desired amount of unwanted material from said surface to be groomed, without causing damage to a protective coating disposed on the surface to be groomed. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said grooming brush further comprises a plurality of impeller elements extending from said brush hub first surface arranged in an impeller vein pattern having a center, wherein said center of said impeller vein pattern is disposed upon said axis of rotation, and wherein said impeller elements are defined as comprising a material having a Shore A Hardness between 40-55 and having a length no greater than the plurality of shroud elements.